Renovations + Design by Allison Merritt Design, Photography by Ryan Garvin
This is an example of a beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Arts and crafts galley separate kitchen in Portland with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, wood benchtops, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Other with marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and subway tile splashback.

As innkeepers, Lois and Evan Evans know all about hospitality. So after buying a 1955 Cape Cod cottage whose interiors hadn’t been updated since the 1970s, they set out on a whole-house renovation, a major focus of which was the kitchen. The goal of this renovation was to create a space that would be efficient and inviting for entertaining, as well as compatible with the home’s beach-cottage style. Cape Associates removed the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room to create an open, airy layout. The ceilings were raised and clad in shiplap siding and highlighted with new pine beams, reflective of the cottage style of the home. New windows add a vintage look. The designer used a whitewashed palette and traditional cabinetry to push a casual and beachy vibe, while granite countertops add a touch of elegance. The layout was rearranged to include an island that’s roomy enough for casual meals and for guests to hang around when the owners are prepping party meals. Placing the main sink and dishwasher in the island instead of the usual under-the-window spot was a decision made by Lois early in the planning stages. “If we have guests over, I can face everyone when I’m rinsing vegetables or washing dishes,” she says. “Otherwise, my back would be turned.” The old avocado-hued linoleum flooring had an unexpected bonus: preserving the original oak floors, which were refinished. The new layout includes room for the homeowners’ hutch from their previous residence, as well as an old pot-bellied stove, a family heirloom. A glass-front cabinet allows the homeowners to show off colorful dishes. Bringing the cabinet down to counter level adds more storage. Stacking the microwave, oven and warming drawer adds efficiency.

http://www.heidisbridge.com/

Caleb Vandermeer Photography
Photo of a large country galley open plan kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island and brown floor.

Kitchen remodel with reclaimed wood cabinetry and industrial details. Photography by Manolo Langis. Located steps away from the beach, the client engaged us to transform a blank industrial loft space to a warm inviting space that pays respect to its industrial heritage. We use anchored large open space with a sixteen foot conversation island that was constructed out of reclaimed logs and plumbing pipes. The island itself is divided up into areas for eating, drinking, and reading. Bringing this theme into the bedroom, the bed was constructed out of 12x12 reclaimed logs anchored by two bent steel plates for side tables.

Kitchen Design by Cabinets by Design LLC http://www.houzz.com/pro/cabinetsbydesigniowa

Mint green and retro appliances marry beautifully in this charming and colorful 1950's inspired kitchen. Featuring a White Jade Onyx backsplash, Chateaux Blanc Quartzite countertop, and an Onyx Emitis custom table, this retro kitchen is sure to take you down memory lane.

David Kingsbury, www.davidkingsburyphoto.com
Mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Inspiration for a contemporary galley kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Design ideas for a large l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Providence with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Design ideas for a large country galley open plan kitchen in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, soapstone benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Scott Zimmerman, Modern kitchen with walnut cabinets and quartz counter top.
This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Jonathan Salmon, the designer, raised the wall between the laundry room and kitchen, creating an open floor plan with ample space on three walls for cabinets and appliances. He widened the entry to the dining room to improve sightlines and flow. Rebuilding a glass block exterior wall made way for rep production Windows and a focal point cooking station A custom-built island provides storage, breakfast bar seating, and surface for food prep and buffet service. The fittings finishes and fixtures are in tune with the homes 1907. architecture, including soapstone counter tops and custom painted schoolhouse lighting. It's the yellow painted shaker style cabinets that steal the show, offering a colorful take on the vintage inspired design and a welcoming setting for everyday get to gathers.. Pradhan Studios Photography

photography: Todd Gieg
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, soapstone benchtops and stainless steel appliances.

This is an example of a large transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, quartz benchtops, matchstick tile splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and recessed-panel cabinets.